Letters to the Editor

Many years ago when I was just a small child, my daddy would buy me all the fireworks I wanted. Then on the Fourth of July, I would go out and have a ball setting off all of my firecrackers.

Of course, back then I never thought about what all that noise would do to any pets that were nearby. But, years later, after I became a dog owner, I finally realized just what it did to them to hear all of those loud explosions.

On the evening of New Year's Eve, as I sat at my desk, I suddenly heard the unmistakable reports from someone setting off firecrackers, and moments later I had a very frightened and shivering dog trying to hide herself in-between my legs underneath my desk.

As she sat there, I began to wonder about all the other pets in my neighborhood. Were they, too, shivering from fright while trying to hide from the noise of all those firecrackers exploding?

So, if you are reading this, remember in the future, before you light that firecracker, try to remember just what the report of that firecracker will do to all the pets in your neighborhood.

Jack Harmon

Phoenix

Parking should be Ashland's top priority

In my opinion, the real priority for the City Council right now is neither the road diet nor the Plaza. Instead, it's the ever-shrinking amount of public parking space in Ashland. It's abundantly clear that it's already inadequate and will only be infinitely worse by the time OSF's summer theater-goers start arriving.

One final request in this regard — I would hope — rather, expect — that this task would not require the services of an expensive consultant. Instead, I would think a walking tour by the City Council should suffice.

Dorothy "Dee" Decker

Ashland

Keep food, money and jobs local

At a time when one of Jackson County's largest employers, Amy's Kitchen, is employing 800-plus Jackson County residents in two shifts in White City because of the processing plant's proximity to the county's organic produce, it's unbelievable that we do not want to ban GMOs and promote organic — for jobs and for health.

The money for GMO seed and pesticide goes out of the county whereas the money for organic (as God intended) produce stays here employing local people and going round and round.